Propeller dolly



May 3, 1949- L. LESPERANCE TAL 2,468,884

l PROPELLER DOLLY Filed May 12, 1945 l 4 sheets-sheet1 SIF: l

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Ma'Y 3,' 1949 l.. LEsPERANcE Erm. 2,468,884

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May 3, 1949.

Filed May 12, 1945 L. L ESPERANCE ET AL PROPELLER DoLLY` 4 Shets-Sheet 5 'May 3, 1949- L. LESPERANCE Erm. l 2,468,884

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' 499 .Nk BJ' g i Patented May 3, 1949 PROPELLER DOLLY Louis LEsperance and Hubert A. Schneider, Madison, Wis.

Application May 12, 1945, Serial No. 593,404

4 Claims.

This invention relates to airplane maintenance equipment and has for its object to provide a device for handling propellers in placing them on or removing them from a motor shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for handling a plurality of propcllers and positioning the same relative to a motor shaft.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for moving, lifting vertically and horizontally shifting a propeller.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a single unit a carriage, a support for a plurality of propellers, means for raising the same, aligning them with the position of a motor shaft and shifting them onto the shaft.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a dolly or truck means for mechanically handling propellers to place or remove them from a propeller shaft together with tool and equipment chests and workmens platforms.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our device,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the invention, and

Figure 4 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional-elevational view of the cylinder and pump mechanism shown .in Figure 2. p

In the accompanying drawings and inA the specification to follow the same reference characters indicate the same parts, in which I0, has reference to our invention in its entirety and in which Il', is a platform mounted upon preferably ball bearing castor wheels I 2, I3, etc. in order that the device may be very easily propelled and guided into an exact desired position relative to an airplane. The platform is provided with a relatively wide longitudinal channel I 4, extending throughout the length thereof. Mounted centrally along this channel is an I-beam I5, over the center I6, of which is mounted a hydraulic or other fluid cylinder I1, relative to which more will be said later on.

Mounted upon the bottom I I, of the truck, `just to each side of said channel I4, is a pair of inverted U-frame members I8 and I 9, the respective legs 2!! and 2|, 22 and 23, of which are connected by cross braces 24 and 25, and also connecting the respective U-member legs are braces 26 and 21, respectively which are centrally bent in as at 28 and 29, to support the said cylinder I1, as well as further brace the members I8 and I'9.

Upon the wings 30 and 3|, of the member II, are provided a tool chest 32, and parts and equipment chest 33. Connected to the horizontal bars 35 and 35, respectively of the U-members E3 and IS, are outwardly projecting platforms 36 and 31, upon which mechanics may sit or stand when removing or mounting a propeller. These platforms are supported on the outer edges by braces 38 and 39, pivoted to collars 40 and 4I, whereby if desired the platforms may be swung down by releasing the wing nuts 42.

The cylinder I1, is a fluid lift provided with a piston rod 43, having a bifurcated head lia, between the disks and 46, on which is pivotally mounted a similar disk 41, forming a depending part of a tongue 48, fixed to a horizontally disposed cylinder 49. The member 48, has stamped thereon an incline scale 50, to which the indice hand 5I, of disk 45, points, whereby the required angular position of member 49, may readily be adjusted.

Operating within the cylinder 49, are a pair of oppositely movable piston rods 52 and 53, each having an enlarged bifurcated head 54, with spaced arms 55 and 56. Projecting from the head in opposite directions are upwardly curved segmental arms 51 and 58, terminating in spaced apart oppositely inclined semi-cylindrical heads 59 and 6G, adapted to receive the Shanks 5I and 62, of propeller blades 63 and 64, projecting from the hub 65, of a propeller 66. The arms 51 and 58, are so located as to bring the shank 51, of blade 68, between the said arms 55 and 55, of head 54. Pivoted to the terminal 69, of arm 55, is a cross latch 1l), detachably connected to the end 1l, of arm 55, by a pin 12, whereby the propeller 66, may be securely held to said head 54.

The upper end 13, ofcylinder I1, is secured by braces 14, 15, 16 and 11. 1t is, of course, obvious that the length of the cylinder I1, and its piston 43, will depend upon the height to which a propeller is to be lifted. Attached by straps 'lil and 19, to the cylinder I1, is a pump 80, having a connection 8|, with the bottom of the cylinder and which pump is operated by a lever 82. The cylin der 59, has mounted thereon a pump 83, actuated by a handle 34. The cylinder 49, and pistons 52, and 53, are of a length to shift the propeller carried by the device a suitable distance to seat the propeller directly upon the shaft to which it is to be attached or to receive them for such shafts.

The operation of the device is very simple: The propellers are mounted upon the dolly, which is pushed or drawn to the airplane to which they are to be attached and positioned directly under the motor shaft upon which a propeller is to be attached, then the angular position of said shaft is taken and the cylinder piston 52 or 53, is set to the exact same angle through means of the incline scale 59, then the pump 80, operated to raise piston 43, to proper height, then pump 83, is operated to -move the propeller fdirectly upon said motor lshaft (not shown) From the above it will be obvious that we have provided a propeller mounting or dismountin'gl.r4

device which will save much time, labor. andere...v

pense, but which will relieve the mechanics of much hand and laborious worlzp.-V

It is thought that persons skilled in the arttofwhich the invention relates Willbeableto obtain a clear understanding of `the invention after considering the description in connection withthe."

therefrom to support.workmenengagedfinmounting and demounting propellers. With relation..to the engines mounted in aircraft, -a .power lift mounted onfthe platformintermediate the sides and ends of. the-trough to move verticallybetween the framesandpropeller.- cradlescarried4 `by the power Ylift and. movable. therewith :between the endsof the. frames.

2. Apparatus for use in handling aircraf-tpro.- pellers which includes-a mobileplatform-having a longitudinal trough. in itsbottom,.a framezrrising from the platform-adjacent each longitudinal: side edge ofthe. trough, a shelf atthe upper edge .of each side lframe adapted toextend-outwardly there-from4 to supportwor-kmen engaged inl mountingand .demountinggpropellers .with relationto the engines mounted in.. aircraft, .a power-.lift mounted on .the platform intermediatethezsides and endsofthetrough .to move. vertically between the iframes. and! `Ypropeller f cradles ycarried yby the power lift. and. movable.. therewith between the ends.. .of :the frames...and .meanscarriedwby .the power lift to .move-'.the. cradlestoward -or away from its axis..

3` Apparatus for use in handling aircraft propellers which includes a mobile platform having a longitudinal trough in its bottom, a frame rising from the platform adjacent each longitudinal side edge of the trough, a shelf at the upper edge of each side frame adapted to extend outwardly therefrom to support workmen engaged in mounting and demounting propellers with relation" toithei engines mounted: in. aircraft, `a power lift'mounted .'onuthe platform intermediate the sides and ends of the trough, a carriage actuated by the power lift and movable vertically between the. frames and a propeller cradle at each end of the carriage for movement therewith adjacent I the ends of the: frame.

14. .Apparatus for use in handling aircraft propellerswhich includes a mobile platform having `a longitudinal trough in its bottom, a frame rising from ^the platform adjacent each longitudinal side edge of the trough,.a shelf at the upper edge ofeach sideframe. adaptedto extend outwardly therefrom. to. .support workmen engaged yin rnnuntingv and. fdemounting. propellers.v with relation to thelenginesV mountedin aircraft, a power lift mounted on.the..platform intermediate the sidesand. ends of the .trough,.a carriage actuated by the ,power liftandmovablevertically between the Vframes,.a propeller cradle at each end. of .the carriage for` movement therewthadiacent the ends of th-e frame and meanscarried by lthe car riage, to move thecradles. toward or away from the vertical axis. .of the carriage.

LOUIS .LESPERANCE.

HUBERT'A.: SCHNEIDER.

REFERENCES "CITED The following-referencesare of record in ithe file .fof vthis ...patentz UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date .333,114,- Dougine.; Dec. 29, 1885 725,312 Ander-son .Apr. 14,1903 327,354 Fisher July. 31, ..1906

1,300,371 French Apr. 15, 1919 1,367,907, Andrews 1 Feb. 8, 1921 1,414,970. Nelson.; May 2, 1922 1,475,552 Peterson Nov. 27, 1923 1,697,117 Hilstad Jan.y 1, 1929 .f 1,990,491 Johnson.- Feb. '12, 1935 2,335,692l Murray Nov. 30, 1943 2,365,151 Solomon Dec..-.1`9, 1944 2,375,104.- Heitshu May v1, 1945 2,395,411 Kittel... Feb.' 26, A1946 FOREIGN'PATENTS Number Country Date 1 10,793 Great Britain.: May y11, 189,8 

